Signal device for telephone systems.



' PATENTED MAY26, 1903.

- E. P. BAIRD. SIGNAL DEVICE FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

#InvenZEwr." Idwaral Baird, J fi'ed 612M402 UNITED STATES Patented May26, 1903.

PATENT. OFFICE.

EDI/VARD I. BAIRD, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. TO BAIRD MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR TELE PHQNE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,833, dated May 26, 1903. Application filed April 14, 1902 Serial No. 102,788. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. BAIRD, a resident of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices for Telephone Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to devices employed for producing audible signals designed for use in telephone systems, and more particularly for distinctive signals employed in toll apparatus, registers, and the like to notify the central operator of the actuation of a device.

In Letters Patent No. 678,633 granted to me for telephone toll apparatus there is shown a device consisting, essentially, of a flexible strip arranged to be vibrated by a movable part.

One object of the invention is to improve the signal devices shown in said patent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal device for producing an audible signal which is adapted for use in and can be advantageously used in telephone systems.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device whereby a particular signal will be produced which cannot be simulated by other sound-producing bodies.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved signal device adapted more particularly for use in connection with toll apparatus for telephones which is simple in construction and which produces a clear and distinctive audible signal and such as will be clearly conducted over the telephoneline.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined by claim at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in vertical section through a toll apparatus having an improved signal device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View, in horizontal section, of the vibratory sound-producing strip and the abutment for said strip.

A denotes an inclosing case of a toll apparatus and is of usual construction. The top wall of the case is provided with a slot at,

wherethrough acoin can be inserted. Within the case a coin-carrier B is pivotally sustained by a rod b. The carrier is provided with a channel or guide I), wherein a coin of proper size will be held by a stop 17 The carrier is notched or recessed as at 6 to expose a portion of the coin and so the coin will engage the signal device. The carrier is also provided with alever b whereby the carrier can be manually shifted and serves to positively shift the coin to efiect the operation of the signal device. In practice the case is usually secured to the backboard of the telephone set, so the audible signals produced will be conducted over the telephoneline to the central exchange. The construction and operation of the coin-shifting mechanism is similar to that set forth in the aforesaid patent, and for a more detailed descrip- 1 tion thereof reference may be had to said patent.

The improved signal device comprises a sound-producing body or strip C, which has a part thereof rigidly secured, as at c, to the case. The body C is preferably formed of a thin flexible strip and is provided with a free terminal or portion 0, which is bent and projected into the path of travel of a coin in the coin-carrier. An abutment D is arranged intermediate the free terminal and the fixed terminal of the strip and is provided with a screw-thread d, adapted to engage a corresponding screw-thread formed in the support. Such screw can be accurately adj usted to relatively position the abutment and the flexible strip. When the coin has been deposited and the carrier is shifted by means of a handle b the carrier will be oscillated and the coin will first engagethe free terminal of the strip, then bend the strip, and then travel beyond said terminal and be discharged from the carrier. When the strip is released from the coin, the inherent elasticity of the strip will cause the strip to vibrate-for a period.

In practice it has been found that when abutment D is normally positioned in close proximity to the flexible strip and within the range of vibration, but not sufficiently close thereto to cause prompt cessation of the vibrations, the strip will repeatedly tap the abutment during the vibrations resulting from the sudden release of the strip. When such abutment is used in such manner, the resultant sound produced by the vibratory strip will be materially different than when such abutment is not employed. The abutment will interrupt the vibration of the flexible strip, so that the strip will produce aharsh and clear sound, which will be clearly conducted over the telephone-line. It will thus be seen that the sound produced by the strip is materially diiferent from that produced when the abutment is not employed and, furthermore, is such that it can be clearly distinguished from sound produced solely by the vibration of the strip and from sounds produced by other sound-yielding bodies. Another resultant advantage of the construction is that the tapping of abutment D, which is secured to the case, will produce vibrations of the support, which will be conducted to the transmitter of the telephone set. By employing a screw the abutment can be readily and accurately positioned to produce said distinctive sound or can be forced against the stop to prevent vibration at the point of contact so a sound of diiferent pitch will be produced, if desired, or can be withdrawn entirely so sound of a lower pitch will be produced. In practice the screw is placed behind a supplemental front plate a so access cannot be had thereto by unauthorized persons. When the screw has been setin the desired relative position with respect to the yielding strip, it maybe secured in position by a bit of solder or other wellknown means. If the strip becomes bent and it is desired to restore the relative position of the strip and abutment, the solder can be removed, so the screw can be adjusted and then again secured.

While in the construction shown the coin serves to efiect the shift of the strip, I wish it understood that the invention is not restricted to such means, except where specifically recited in the claims. Furthermore, the invention is not to be understood as restricted to the particular use shown and described, since it can be employed to great advantage in other devices associated with telephone systems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A signal device for telephone systems comprising a flexible body, having a part thereof securely held, and having a yielding part adapted to be vibrated, means for vibrating said body, and an abutment positioned to be engaged by said body, said yielding part being extended beyond said abutment to form a part free to vibrate.

2. A signal device for telephone systems, comprising a flexible body having a part. thereof securely held and having a yielding part adapted to be vibrated, means for vibrating said yielding part, an abutment wherewith said body can engage, and means whereby the relative position of said bodyand said abutment can be varied, in that direction which will vary the relative position of the abutment with respect to the range of vibration of said body.

3. A signal device for telephone systems, comprising a flexible strip having a part thereof securely held, and having a yielding part, means for vibrating said yielding part, an abutment for engaging said strip, and a screw-thread whereby the relative position of the abutment with respect to the strip can be varied.

4. A signal device for telephone systems, comprising a flexible strip having a part thereof securely held and having a free terminal, an abutment wherewith said strip can engage at a point between said part and said terminal, and means for vibrating said strip, said abutment being provided with a screwt-hread, whereby the relative position of the abutment and the strip can be varied in that direction which will vary the relative position of the abutment with respect to the range of vibration of said strip.

5. In a toll apparatus for telephones, a sig nal device comprising a flexible sound-producing strip having a part thereof securely held, and having a free terminal a variable abutment for engaging said strip intermediate said part and said terminal, and means EDWARD P. BAIR-D.

In presence of EMMA GERLACH, FRED GERLACH. 

